... and my new favourite thing ever.

I love dogs so much.

... I had to post this article.

I wish I had piggy gumboots of some kind. Not sure what I'd actually use them for, but hey.

The overwhelming cute is sickening!

edit: Oh, and shame, Brits, shame!

I really, really hate the every day manners of people when it means that calling a wrong number is a cause for hanging up on the person who answers the second they tell you of your mistake. No "Oh, sorry" or "thank you anyway", just *hang up* right away. This one today was on behalf of Centrelink, too. ARRRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!

... My life is now complete*. Is it disturbing that I've had conversations with shifraj AND mrpaulywauly about how this could have been an actual pop song before this announcement?

*With apologies to non-Aussies (which quite obviously excludes captainshen as the honorary Australian I never knew)/those not familiar with the wonderfulness that is Summer Heights High.

Yesterday was such a beautiful day, both in terms of weather and content of the day's activities. As per our promise to Tiggy when we found out how sick he was, Pauly and I made a special road trip to Bendigo (Pauly's family's home) to see his parents and to let the boys run free for a couple of hours in the bushlands of his family's backyard. I realise what a stereotype of Australia that comment is supporting, but Pauly's family does in fact live half an hour's drive from Bendigo (a rural city of Victoria) out in the middle of nowhere! And, oh, how the dogs adore everything about the property.

We stopped halfway to pick up Pauly's Mum and her pup Oatis (who looks very much like and absolutely adores and worships Tiggy), as they now live between Bendigo and Melbourne, and had the great joy of squeezing three dogs and one person in the back of the car! And for those of you who know how noisy one lone Tiggy can be in the back of the car (shifraj?).. well.. multiply the effect of that when being distracted by two other crazed canines with no space to themselves. I think there was a two minute gap when the barking stopped for long enough to recollect our thoughts, but I can't be sure! Eventually, we all got there safe and sound, had a BBQ for lunch with Pauly's Dad, talked about footy for the first time in a long time (off-season/cricket season, oh how I loathe you), showed them our masses of pictures from our trip around Europe and had a great time watching the boys run around with excited insanity. Not only is Bendigo a great doggy place for space, but the sights and smells of the wildlife (rabbits, foxes and kangaroos) send them in to ecstasy. Oggy spent much of his life there, so it's not as great an adventure for him although it's always nice to catch up, but for Tiggy who has always lived in the suburbs, he looks so natural and at home. Oatis, too, had a ball!

( And so I present the fun part of the adventure - the pictures! )

I made the stupid mistake of going online and reading responses from the general public about Kevin Rudd's apology this morning. If it is at all possible (given my great resent and loathing), I think I might just expect too much or think too highly of the Australian people. We are a far more closed minded and bigoted people than I am able to contemplate.

But anyway. I will not allow today, a wonderful, beautiful day, to be tarnished by the ignorant racism (which, YES, it is by the inability or unwillingness to understand the genuine pain and suffering of entire generations of people on the basis that they are Aboriginal or somehow not as important as "us" - I wonder if such individuals could honestly state that they would not want some kind of formal apology for actions carried out by the State with similar consequences on their selves and families) of, unfortunately, far too many who are resisting this amazing gesture.

Today was the day the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, announced to the Stolen Generations, Aboriginal people, and the rest of the country that he was, on behalf of Australia and past governments, sorry for the cruel, calculated and devastating actions of the past.

I am a firm believer that actions speak louder than words, but these *particular* words needed to be said. They may just be a step in the right direction, but the great leaps and bounds that I hope will one day be achieved could not happen without them. The ramifications both socially and emotionally/physically are still widely felt today, and relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people have never been healed as a result. This gesture of reconciliation was long overdue, and whilst the atrocities of the past ended in the early 1970s (well within the lifetime of much of this country), "sorry" had never been spoken by an Australian Prime Minister before today. I could harp on about how much I applaud and appreciate the wording of Mr. Rudd's speech (his willingness to use the term "sorry" freely, to accept responsibility and apologise "without qualification", and the reactions of members of the Stolen Generations and their supporters) or how frustrating and insensitive Opposition leader Brendan Nelson's speech was (including his inappropriate references to war veterans on a day specifically dedicated to Aboriginal Australians, his references to the "necessary" actions of the past and the progress made under John Howard's government - let alone his inclusion of the story of one particular woman who had said that she didn't want to be told "Sorry" as though one person in any way, shape or form does a collection of people make). But I won't (any more so!), because the most important thing was said: "As Prime minister of Australia, I am sorry".

I have no way of knowing how I will feel in 12 months time, but today, I am thankful for Kevin Rudd and proud to have him leading this country in the right direction. I love Australia far too much to have this overwhelmingly horrible darkness clouding everything it stands for.

Oh, and PS: Australia? Getting rid of the bastard was the best decision we've made in years. This just goes to further demonstrate what kind of morally corrupt person he is as opposed to only his political strengths and tactics.

.. but I adore my puppies, and I adore the fact that both of them stand up high and mighty the second thunder starts rumbling in the distance, acting tough as though either of them could "take it" (and I swear Tiggy's brain is ticking over how exactly he's going to manage to bite it), only to come crawling up to me for cuddles within seconds. And even more than that, I love that they both run to the front of the house to peer out of the front window in hopes of a bit of action, standing shoulder to shoulder and having their tails wagging in sync with one another. They are both far more beautiful and make me far more happy than words could ever, EVER begin to describe. My boys are loved more than most *ever* are. I think we've done a good job.

My beautiful, sweet boy about two hours ago, after having eaten his vet-suggested serving of chicken and (you guessed it!) rice for dinner. He might not like the camera, but he'll never know just how gorgeous he is.

You know, in most houses, I wouldn't expect to hear the phrase: "But how are you going to get your face in to the toaster?" too often. Sadly, but also thankfully, it's not all that uncommon around here.

Also, last night, I burnt my finger on the same pan in the bain marie twice at work.. only to then burn it again on my hair this morning. My hair for goodness sake. And this is coming from someone whose education is coming to a close. I only shudder to think what will happen when my thinking brain cells start to go stale..

I wholeheartedly believe that on-the-spot extensions should be granted for essays on the basis of beautiful weather - just like employers should allow workers early leave and/or longer lunch breaks just to enjoy being alive on days like today. This is, sincerely, one of the most inhumane injustices in history.

PS - Has anyone seen and/or been adequately repulsed by the "FREE PARIS" T-shirts doing the rounds at the moment? Or the suggestion that Britney Spears' next album might actually be called "Omg Is Like Lindsay Lohan Like Okay Like"? Oh, celebrities, thank you so very much.

You guys! mrpaulywauly, a_little_lower, shifraj, _disi_, axeman2ooo, tacomonkey, danbok (possibly cosmic_kath, emptypockets, myfala, lord_of_fools and phiisua, depending on whether you guys were ever fans?):

( Loooooook! )

... Will I be seeing all you guys there?!

They just don't make children's music like that any more. It's all far too focused on image and make-up and being cool these days. Children can't just be children, they have to hurry up and grow up and wear the Mary-Kate and Ashley clothing and fashion range. Don't even get me started on Hi-5. Whatever happened to songs about your favourite food, doing silly things (brush your hair with a toothbrush, anyone?) or catchy little rhythms about the crazy and fun things the postman might put in a pletterbox - ie things children from that age group are interested in and of a reasonable level of musical engagement? It's sad, and I'm glad I was brought up on a steady diet of Peter Combe!

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

"Happy" ANZAC Day to all of you Aussies and New Zealanders out there.. the only national day that actually means something.

.. Okay, so I lied. The best day ever is actually opening your mail box to find that THIS has just arrived:



It's my favourite movie of the prestigious Comedy/ Horror/Musical/Slasher Flick /Dream /Sequel/Driller Killer/Guitar genre yet! Our midyear camping plans with friends just got that much better.

It's difficult to begrudge Autumn's backwards decline with consecutive days of bright, brilliant sunshine and 27oC (80oF). I'm happy to ditch the hot chocolate and wooly jumper for more BBQs and time in the sun just this once.

It's irrational that I allow baby names to upset me as much as I do. But I swear it's not just me - names of the last couple of years, in particular, are getting worse. If they're not being named "Shakira" (momentary pop culture leaving a permanent impact on future generations) or "Agnes" (ie the old fashioned names coming back in to high circulation), they're even more outrageous, pretentious, ridiculous or just plain abusive. This morning I happened to note the welcoming of "Sophia Concetta", "Imogen Noelle", "Gidget Margaret", "Paisley Brighe", "April Violet", "Oskar Erik" (for when the letter C just won't do?) and, my very, very favourite, twins "Chanel Beverley" and "Armani Nicole". They named their girls Chanel and Armani! Remember, people, a name is not just for birthdays, it's for life!

.. I do feel comfort, however, in the fact that Video Hits played MC Hammer's U Can't Touch This (complete with parachute pants and fluorescent colours), Meatloaf's (now there's an attractive man) I'd do Anything for Love (mrpaulywauly and I do the best of duets, it must be said) and Prince's Cream (how I wish Pauly would serenade me with a bright yellow guitar). Oh, early 90s, how you do me right!

Did anyone else hear about the result of actor Kate Winslet's libel claim over a British magazine's report that she had been visiting a dietician in regards to her weight? Being a positive body image role model over the years and keen spokeswoman of the growing size-zero debate, she took the magazine to court over the damaging accusations and made a "substantial" cash settlement out of court.. which she then donated straight to an eating disorder charity.

This, in conjunction with her on-going public comments on the issue, is exactly what those in the celebrity limelight should be doing with their time and effort. Need I say more?

You think you know someone.. and then you find out they don't even know C is for Cookie.

(I knew this icon would come in handy one of these days, but oh, the disappointment!)